Tech expert Pat Foran is warning social media users to be vigilant against increasingly convincing AI-generated scam videos [1].
The rise of deepfake technology allows fraudsters to mimic trusted figures and create realistic scenarios, making it harder for consumers to distinguish between legitimate content and financial traps.
Foran said AI-generated videos are making online scams more convincing [1]. These videos often appear on social media platforms to lure victims into sending money or sharing sensitive personal information. Because the visual and auditory elements are so lifelike, users may trust the content without questioning the source.
This trend arrives amid a significant increase in financial crime. The Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre reported that Canadians lost over $704 million to fraud in 2026 [2]. The scale of these losses underscores the effectiveness of modern social engineering techniques, specifically those powered by artificial intelligence.
To protect themselves, Foran suggests looking for subtle inconsistencies in videos. These may include unnatural blinking patterns, distorted lip movements, or audio that does not perfectly align with the speaker's mouth [1]. Users are encouraged to verify any request for money through a separate, trusted communication channel before taking action.
Foran said the goal is to provide practical tips to help Canadians avoid financial loss [1]. By slowing down and analyzing the media they consume, users can better identify the hallmarks of a deepfake. Experts recommend ignoring high-pressure tactics often used in these videos, such as claims of urgent limited-time offers, or emergency situations involving loved ones.
As AI tools become more accessible, the ability to create high-quality fraudulent content is no longer limited to sophisticated hackers. This democratization of AI means that a wider variety of scams can be deployed rapidly across different platforms, targeting a broader demographic of users [3].
“AI-generated videos are making online scams more convincing.”
The integration of generative AI into fraud schemes represents a shift from text-based phishing to high-fidelity visual deception. As the cost of creating deepfakes drops, the volume of convincing scams is likely to increase, placing a higher burden of verification on the individual user rather than the platform.
